Wayne State University and the University Cultural Center Association are co-producers of the Detroit Festival of the Arts, which is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Sept. 15-17.The festival in set in the 20-block University Cultural Center; it is free and open to the public with hours 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. An important attraction is the Children's Fair; its hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. WSU President Irvin D. Reid is co-chair of the festival with arts philanthropist and advocate Maggie Allesee. The festival is a three-day, multidimensional arts event that offers 125 visual artists from across North America, seven stages of international entertainment, a Literary Arts Festival, Shakespeare-in-the-Park theatre, a Children's Fair, street performers, tours of the Ferry Street historic district, food and fun.

A Youth Artists Market, sand sculpture, horse and carriage rides and banner competition also are part of the event. Activities during Wayne State's Welcome Back Week and Celebration of the Arts, which both run Monday-Friday, Sept. 11-15, lead into the festival. Wayne State plans a variety of activities during the festival including an alumni pancake and sausage breakfast from 10 a.m.- noon Sunday under a canopy near the Alumni House on Ferry Mall. Live music and pony rides add to the morning's fun.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children12 years and younger. Reservations are required so call (313) 577-2166.
Wayne State booths offer information, presentations, games, giveaways and merchandise for sale. The Engineering booth has the award-winning Ethanol vehicle and video on Team Ethanol with team members on hand to answer questions. Computer stations with games, interactive display and a Brain Quest contest are part of the demonstration.
On Friday the "Folks Like Us" live broadcast on WDET-FM 101.9 with host Matt Watroba runs noon-3 p.m. and "Arkansas Traveler" with host Larry McDaniel runs 3-5 p.m. Part of WDET's activities is the annual 5K Walk with Art walkathon benefit for the Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. DRIS provides radio reading service for the blind and print impaired.

In addition, the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery presents '~Video Interventions: Works by Vera Frenkel and Krzysztof Wodiczko;" the Community Arts Gallery has the "Faculty Exhibition." Hours are 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Also, $10 WSU cookbooks by the President's Commission on the Status of Women to raise funds for a women's athletic scholarship are available at WSU information booths. Wayne State has other projects scheduled as well.


A fencing demonstration appears in front of the Reuther Library and a cheerleading demonstration is in the Children's Fair;

The Wayne State Press has a three day Book Sale;

The College of Nursing has free blood pressure testing on Sunday;

The Law School has tours of its new facility;

The College of Liberal Arts has the M.L. Liebler Magic Poetry Band at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the Comerica Stage;

The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies has interactive displays for children and adults; and

College of Science has displays and science activities.


Volunteers are needed to help with a multitude of tasks. To volunteer, call Eileen Raider in the WSU Office of Community Relations at (313) 577-2246.Various sections of Cass, Kirby, John R. and Farnsworth have closures during the days of the festival. Parking Structure #5 on Anthony Wayne is available for faculty and staff parking; during these days show-parking cards to attendant. For more information on schedules and performers, visit the festival on the Web at or call the UCCA office, (313) 577-5088.